TV Commercial

In case I am asked to do a TV commercial . . .

In 1939, at the beginning of WW2, my parents brought me from Scotland to North America. I became a United States citizen in 1966, and consider myself a patriot. I hold four academic degrees, and I have spoken to congregations in Canada and throughout the United States. I have authored 19 books, more than 50 curriculum courses, and hundreds of articles. When friends tell me I should retire and take life easy, I tell them I am still too young to retire. I enjoy playing golf and taking long walks. I am a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a best friend to three little dogs. My name is Jim Dyet. I am 76 years old, and I am a Christian.

Golf at Fort Carson Army Post

When asked where I play golf in Colorado Springs, I respond, “Cheyenne Shadows.” Actually, I play wherever I am invited to play, but Cheyenne Shadows seems to top the invitation list.

Located on the Fort Carson Army Post, near the base of Cheyenne Mountain, Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course is accessible only to those who pass through security at Gate 5. Presenting my driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance is a required procedure, as is the ritual of popping the hood of my car, opening the doors, and lifting trunk lid.

After clearing security, I pay a modest green fee at the clubhouse, meet my buddy, and together we load our clubs onto a golf cart and fall into a line at the first tee, where we are often paired with young soldiers. Before long, we tee off, and the adventure begins.

Although Cheyenne Shadows is a military course, we don’t hit our golf balls left, right, left, right, left, right—at least we try not to.

One day, two young soldiers—one from Pennsylvania and the other from West Virginia—joined my buddy and me. They had recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and will return to Iraq in six months. Neither soldier complained about having to serve in Iraq, and neither soldier said he wished for an easier life.

Just a gentle reminder—Christians are soldiers—soldiers of the cross—yet many of us want to serve God only as advisers. A far-too-prevalent attitude seems to be, “I’m not available for any ministry that involves personal hardship or takes too much of my time or runs the risk of being unappreciated and unrewarded.” Such soldiers are what C. T. Studd called, “chocolate soldiers.” They melt when the heat rises.

One soldier’s golf game fell apart at the fifth hole, and he became so frustrated and discouraged he retreated to his golf cart and pouted. Only the tactful encouragement of his soldier buddy persuaded him to resume play at the eighth hole. I’m happy to report the despondent soldier played well once again.

Another gentle reminder—soldiers of the cross can become frustrated and discouraged. Some may become so discouraged they drop out of Christian service. However, we can encourage them to “get back into the game.” A pat on the back works far better than a callous rebuke.

“Let us encourage one another,” Hebrews 10:25 admonishes. Let’s spread encouragement around wherever we Christians interact with one another. As soldiers of the cross, we need to buddy up in our constant conflict with evil.

—From Straight Down the Middle by Jim Dyet, © 2010 Circle Books

Straight Down the Middle is available at Amazon.com or you may obtain an autographed copy from the author at Write2jtd@aol.com.

Can Anything Good Come Out of the Broncos' Loss to Buffalo?

The Broncos’ performance in Buffalo on Christmas Eve was ugly. Interceptions, sacks, turnovers, missed tackles, “bad” calls,” and a final score too painful to glance at left Bronco fans eating glum pudding. What can we deduce from such a loss? Perhaps God isn’t as big a Bronco fan as many of would like to think. But judging by Buffalo’s win/loss record, He must not be a big Bills fan either. Maybe He doesn’t have a favorite NFL team. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes might remind us there are Christian players on every NFL team.

But isn’t Tim Tebow an outstanding Christian as well as an excellent football player? Yes, but he isn’t perfect in either respect. He is still developing as an NFL QB, and God is still developing him as a Christian. I am sure Tim Tebow knows what every Christian knows: spiritual growth is far more important than acclaim. The true measure of a person’s success is not determined by athletic prowess or fame or fortune. It is determined by character and commitment to God’s will.

A fruit grower in Michigan seemed devastated when a late frost doomed his peach production. “Why did God let this happen?” he asked his pastor.

“Perhaps,” the pastor replied, “to show He is far more interested in growing you than He is in growing peaches.”

Likely, Tim Tebow believes God is more interested in growing him than He is in growing a string of football victories, and he accepts losses as part of the process.

What are we learning that helps us grow in and through losses and setbacks? Can we look beyond disappointments and see His appointments?

Go, Broncos!

Te-Bow Or Not Te-Bow, That Is the Question

Te-bow or not te-bow, that is the question.

Tim Tebow has injected excitement into Denver Bronco football, the likes of which Bronco fans have not experienced since 1977, when the team rocked the NFL, won the AFC championship, and played Dallas in Super Bowl XII. During that memorable season, Bronco running back John Keyworth recorded a song that thrilled Bronco fans. His “Make Those Miracles Happen” captured the spirit of 1977 Bronco football. Each win truly seemed miraculous.

Now, the Broncos are winning games in what some might call miraculous ways. They are come-from-behind 4^th Quarter and Overtime wins. Fans have seen Quarterback Tim Tebow bowing on one knee and praying. His prayer posture has been called “Tebowing,” and many have imitated it. Some “Tebow” respectfully; others do so mockingly. A recent letter to the editor criticized the young quarterback for praying in public. The writer compared it to the Pharisees’ praying in public to be ”seen by men” (Matthew 6:5). But if it were not for the focus of TV cameras on the praying QB, how many would see him pray? I believe the praying is sincere and unpretentious.

I suppose it is easy to assume Tim Tebow prays for a Bronco victory, but I have no proof of that. Further, praying for one’s team to win equates to praying for the other team to lose. That’s kind of selfish, isn’t it? And surely, Christians may be found on both teams.

Perhaps Tim Tebow prays that he and his teammates will do their best to win. Maybe he prays that the game’s outcome will glorify God. I simply do not know what he prays for, but I do know he prays, and I applaud that practice. It is good to see a Christian role model in professional sports who is unashamed to pray openly and to thank our Lord and Savior for the ability to play football,

Tim is dedicated to Christ and a hard-working, disciplined athlete. The other day, a local sports writer called him “the biggest square in the NFL.” I prefer to say he is squarely on God’s side, and I am glad he wears a Bronco uniform, #15.

Rex and Rudy

When I caddied in the late 1940s and early 1950s at the St. Catharines Golf Course, St. Catharines, Ontario, I most enjoyed caddying for Rex Stimers, who usually played with Rudy Pilous. In those days caddies sat in the caddy shack until the caddy master assigned them randomly to golfers. But a golfer could request a caddie by name, and Rex often requested me in spite of the fact that I was one of the youngest caddies. I was about 13 or 14 when I caddied for Rex most often.

Rex was a popular sports announcer for our city’s radio station, CKTB. He was best known for his animated broadcasting of Junior OHL (Ontario Hockey League) games. Our home team was the St. Catharines Teepees. Some of the Teepees advanced to the National Hockey League.

Rudy coached the Teepees, and then became the coach who led the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Championship in 1961. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985. A lefty on the golf course, Rudy matched up against Rex quite well, and both had a terrific sense of humor that took the drudgery out of caddying.

Both men treated me well and introduced me to hockey players who joined them on the course. Rex even treated me to rounds of golf at courses near Toronto and Niagara Falls, New York. It was not unusual to hear him mention my name, Jimmy Dyet, on his nightly sports broadcast.

Both men departed this life a long time ago, but I cherish good memories of them.

Men can have a lasting influence on kids for good or bad. Christian men can choose to mold kids into young men and women who will impact their culture for God. We don’t have to be preachers to teach the younger generation to do right and to honor God. We can demonstrate righteousness on the golf course, on a hockey rink, on a baseball diamond, on a basketball court, or in a classroom—wherever kids need role models. Proverbs 22:6 counsels, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

—From Straight Down the Middle—Meditations for Golfers, © 2010 Circle Books, Winchester, U.K., Washington, D.C.